In addition to improving your appearance, abdominal exercises can help reduce lower back pain, improve your athletic performance, prevent injuries and help you maintain good posture. Although effective, common exercises, such as crunches and situps, might take a toll on your back and neck, especially when done incorrectly. To avoid this, incorporate standing stomach exercises. Paired with a regular exercise routine and a healthy diet, standing abdominal exercises can help tone and flatten your tummy. Work your abdominals on nonconsecutive days and if you have health concerns, consult your doctor beforehand.

The Stomach Vacuum

Whether you're in line at the grocery store or waiting for the bus, you can do the stomach vacuum almost anywhere without anyone noticing. This exercise mainly works the transverse abdominus, which wraps around the torso like a corset. To perform the stomach vacuum, stand up straight, place one hand on your abdomen and suck your stomach in as you exhale -- imagine pulling your belly button to your spine. Hold the abdominal contraction but don't hold your breath -- breathe as normal. Work your way up to holding this position for one minute and complete three repetitions.

Standing Side Crunches

In addition to working your obliques at the sides of your waistline, standing side crunches also work your glutes. To execute the exercise, slightly bend your knees and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Place your fingertips on your head behind your ears with your elbows pointing outward. Bend your right knee 90 degrees and lift your right thigh out to the side as high as you can. At the same time, bend your upper body and try to bring your right elbow as close as possible to your right knee. Hold the contraction for two seconds and stand back upright. Complete 12 repetitions before switching sides. Aim to finish three sets.

Single Leg Stance

When balancing on one leg, you use your standing leg muscles, abdominals and glutes to stabilize your body. To perform the exercise, position your feet hip-width apart and equally divide your weight on your feet. Engage your abdominals, bend your right knee and lift your right leg no more than 6 inches off the floor. Balance like this for about 15 seconds before returning to the starting position and switching legs. Repeat the exercise about three times on each leg. For a greater challenge, lift your leg higher, raise your arms overhead and close your eyes while balancing.

Standing Lift

Standing lifts mainly work your core, legs and glutes -- and you can do them with a medicine ball, a lightweight dumbbell or a water-filled bottle. To perform a standing lift, stand with your feet hip-width apart and take a small step forward with your left foot. Hold your weighted object with both hands. Contract your abs and squat down about 45 degrees while reaching with your weight toward the ground at the right side of your body. Stand back up and swing the weight with a controlled motion across your body to the left side. Repeat the exercise 12 times before switching sides. Work your way up to complete three sets.

About the Author

Kimberly Caines is a well traveled model, writer and licensed physical fitness trainer who was first published in 1997. Her work has appeared in the Dutch newspaper "De Overschiese Krant" and on various websites. Caines holds a degree in journalism from Mercurius College in Holland and is writing her first novel.